Fastener with catch bars operated by pin and slot means



March 5, 1963 D. H. CHESTER 3,079,829

FASTENER WITH CATCH BARS OPERATED BY PIN AND SLOT MEANS FIG. I

Filed Aug. 25, 1955 FIG 6 I 3,079529 FASTENER WETH IATCH BAR OPERATED BY PiN AND SLGT MEANS Dwight I-l. Chester, 151 Grand Qentral Ave, Amityville, N.Y. Filed Aug. 25, 1955, Ser. No. 530,517 4 Claims. (Cl. 85-5) This invention relates to improvements in fasteners, and more particularly to the quick applying or quick release type.

In certain cases, the holding functions normally performed by rivets, bolts or screws of conventional type and generally consisting in the holding together of a pair of plates or other elements having bores in registry, cannot satisfactorily be performed by the conventional means. Gne such case is presented in the temporary holding of elements preliminary to riveting, where it is not practical to use conventional fasteners, primarily because of the time involved in applying and removing them. In my application Serial No. 438,457, filed June 22, 1954, and now abandoned, for Rivet Hole Pin, I have disclosed a device intended primarily for this class of service. The stresses involved in that class of service are almost entirely transverse to the pin axis, and the present invention is directed to an improvement making also provision for the carrying of tensional or separative forces which are exerted axially of the pin. The fields of application for a device of the present character are varied and range from applications in which the primary recuirement is a rapid assembly and disassembly of a structure, and under conditions where special tools may not be available, to applications where the use of rivets or bolts of conventional character is diflicult or impractical due to lack of access.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a generally central axial section of a fastener embodying the invention in a preferred form of embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the fastener of FIG. 1, and at a 90 angle thereto;

P18. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 2;

MG. 4 is a side elevation of the body of the fastener, with certain parts removed;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are end views of the elements of FIG. 4; and

RS5. 7 and 8 are detail elevations from two different points of view of a detent or catch element.

The fastener is of the type in which a tubular element carries axially and radially movable catch members or bars and also contains spring and manual means for giving these bars the required movements to permit insertion and removal of the fastener and to insure a reliable and positive holding action.

The tubular body 19 contains a pair of holding bars 11 which may be, and are shown as, identical but face in opposite directions. The inner ends (upper in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the bars 11 have round apertures or bores 12, through which passes a cross pin 13, the latter element extending through slots 14 in the wall of the tubular member 14 as shown. The cross pin 13 serves as a pivotal axis for the bars ll, and also permits transmission of axial force thereto. The bars 11 are normally urged downwardly of the tubular member it) by a spring 15 seatin against the movable cross pin 13 at one end and against a fixed cross pin 16 at the other. Spring 15 tends to force pin 13 and bars 11 outwardly of the barrel until pin 33 seats against the end of slots 14 in the barrel it}.

The axial outward ends of the bars 11 extend radially outward, forming holding shoulders 17 substantially at right angles to the bars generally and are formed with Patented War. 5, 1%63 diagonal slots '18, through which pass a pin 19 secured in bores 29 of the barrel. By reason of the engagement of pin 19 with the walls of the slots 18, the retraction axially of the bars 11 into the tubular barrel draws their ends radially inward so as to bring them within the extended circular profile of the barrel generally, while the axial pushing of the bars outwardly of the barrel 10 forces them also radially outward and into the position of FIG. 1. The ends of the bars 11 are beveled or tapered as at 21, and move in slots 22 formed in the end of the barrel 1!), the adjacent barrel end 23 being beveled as shown. In consequence of the beveling at 21 and 23 of the bars 11 and barrel 10, the structure has a tapered nose element to facilitate insertion through a bore or bores 24 in the plates or other elements to be secured together. Toward its fastening end, the barrel 10 is slightly enlarged and has a threaded section 25 upon which is placed a holding nut 26.

In operation, the device may be inserted in either of two different ways. First, it may be merely shoved through the holes 24 without pulling back on the plunger 13. In this case, the bevels 21 engaging the edges of the bore will force the bars 11 axially and radially inward until they are inside the profile of the barrel generally, so that they will pass through any hole which will take the barrel. When they have passed through, spring 15 will force them outwardly of both the axial and radial position until they occupy the position of FIG. 1, at which point shoulders 17 will be in position to prevent withdrawal of the device. Alternatively, the thumb may be placed on the top of the barrel in FIG. 2 and the cross pin drawn up with the fingers, so that the elements 11 do not engage the sides of the hole during insertion of the device. During insertion, the nut 26 will be backed off somewhat, and it is now turned to tension the barrel 10, below the shoulders 17 against a surface of the plates to be held and securely hold the parts together. Tension on members 111 is taken by pin 13 seating solidly against the ends of grooves 14 and the forces exerted on pin 19 are only such as required to resist the rotative couple about pin 13 due to tension in members 11 exerted at a short moment arm, which slightly exceeds the radius of the barrel 10. The countervailing moment having a long moment arm equal to the distance between pins 13 and 19, it will be apparent that the stresses exerted at the points of engagement of slots 18 and cross pin 59 may be relatively light, even under rather severe service conditions.

In removing the fastener, the nut 26 may be backed off slightly, the thumb or palm of the hand is then ap plied against the end of the barrel 10, with the fingers hooked under the cross pin 13 and the cross pin is pulled up, against the force of the spring 15, thus drawing the bars 11 upwardly or axially inwardly of the barrel 10 and also causing them to move radially inward, until they are within the profile of the barrel 10.

The cross pin 13 may be held against transverse movement (movement in the line of its own axis) in any convenient Way. In many fields of application, a push fit of this element in the members 11 is entirely satisfactory, permitting a very small angular movement of these members while still holding the pin from slipping out crosswise of the fastener. In other cases, the apertures 12 in the two otherwise identical members 11 may be of slightly different diameters, so as to have a press fit of the pin 13 in one and permit free rotation in the other.

The fastener of the invention permits rapid assembly and disassembly. In some comparative tests which have been made, it was found that the assembly time required could be reduced to less than 20% of that needed when using conventional nuts and bolts. In addition, the assembly may be accomplished without any tools whatsoever and under difiicult conditions which may involve extreme heat or cold, the presence of sand, dirt or water or the absence of any stable-support for a unit during the assembly, as where it may be desired to assemble a unit on a pitching and rolling vessel 'orjoltiug landvehicle. In addition, the fastener operates very satisfactorily by feel, with or without gloves, and is not readily lost. For example, a unit may be gripped by the barrel or body end and cross bar 13 and stuck throughthe openings in the elements to be joined and upon releasing the cross bar 13, the spring 15 will extend or protrude catch bars, thus holding the unit from dropping out of the holes and being lost, if it should be'released prior to tightening the nut 2'6.

It willbe noted that the transverse forces or sheering forces present no'special problem, as'they are exerted by the members 24 tending to slide on each other, against the body member so that these forces need not be borne by catch-members "11 or other movable parts to any substantial extent andthe extent of movement may be limited'as closely as desired by the extent of clearance permitted between the barrel or body member 10 and the holes '24. 'The axial forces are carried by'the bars 11 in tension, by the barrel or body 10 generally in compression and by the nut '26 also in compression, the direction offorce transmission'between the threaded section 25 and the -'nut 26 being directly opposite to that in the usual nut and bolt assembly. In consequence, the tendencyof the'device to-freeze or bind on the one hand, or loosen on the other, due to temperature changes may be controlled as closely as desired and may be substantially eliminated. Thus if the rate of thermal expansion or contractionof the compressed section in the body '10 is equal to that of the'members 11, a rise or fall in temperature will not appreciably affect the holding power ofthe device or interfere with unscrewing of the-nut 26 in disassembly, as the axis of pin 13 is moved in the same direction by a contraction or expansion of members 10 and 11. Materials such as aluminum and aluminum alloys having desirable properties of-lightness and ;mechanical strength may thus be used, even though they possess a high rate of thermal expansion and contraction. Alternatively, where the service conditions are known and are different from the assembly conditions, as, for example, where the unit inoperationis subjected to considerable cold or heat, the design vpermits selection of dimensions and materialsfor the'parts, so that the service conditions cause a tightening of 'the'grip' upon the elements held but they may still be readily disassembled and without tools, wherever desired. As will be apparent, within the design limitations of the device as shown, and depending principally upon the spacing between the openings 20 and 14 as compared -to-the openings 18 and 12, the holding force may be sustained entirely by cross bar 13, entirely by cross bar 19, or by both elements. It is preferred to make the distance between centers of the adjacent circular parts 20 and 14 equal to that between openings 18 and 12, so that the holding-force is distributed between the pin-19 and cross bar 13.

What is claimed is: r

1. A rapid fastener for use as a substitute for bolts and rivets comprising a bifurcated body member, catch bars within the member, movable axially thereof and having oppositely facing shoulders at one end movable transversely from a retracted position within the profile of the member'in the axial direction and outwardly beyond the said profile for engaging the Wall of an aperture through which the body'is inserted, a cross pin in the said member passing through the said ends of the catch bars, the said catch bars'having slanted Walls acco'rrimodating the said cross pin whereby they are urged transversely inwardly and outwardlyby the said cross pin upon axial movement of the said bars,- means fixed to the opposite ends 'ofthe said, bars and extendingtra'ns versely ofthe-said bodymember and outwardly therefrom for gripping by the fingers to move the bars axially of the said member, and a spring yieldingly urging the said bars axially of the body member in a direction to move the first mentioned ends outwardly, a threaded section on the said body member and a correspondingly threaded nut thereon, whereby elements joined together by the fastener may be releasably held together between the said nut and the said shoulders.

2. A rapid fastener for use as a substitute for bolts and rivets comprising a bifurcated body member, catch bars within the member, movable axially thereof and having oppositely facing shoulders at one end movable transversely from a retracted position within the profile of the member in the axial direction and outwardly beyond the said profile for engaging the wall of an aperture through which the body is inserted, the said shoulders being substantially at right angles to the axis of the member when the catch bars are in their position for engaging the wall of an aperture, a cross pin in the said member passing through the said ends of the catch bars, the said catch bars having slanted walls accommodating the said cross pin whereby they are urged transversely inwardly and outwardly by the said cross pin upon axial movement of the said bars, means fixed to the opposite ends of the said bars and extending transversely of the said body member and outwardly therefrom for gripping by the fingers to move the bars axially of the said member, and a spring y'ieldingly urging the said bars axially of the body member in 'a direction to move the first mentioned ends outwardly, a threaded section on the said body member and a correspondingly threaded nut thereon, whereby elements joined together by the fastener may bereleasably held together between the said nut and the said shoulders.

3. A rapid fastener for use as a substitute for bolts and rivets comprising a bifurcated body member, catch bars within the member, movable axially thereof and having oppositely facing shoulders at one end movable transversely from a retracted position within the profile of the member in the axial direction and outwardly beyond the said profile for engaging the wall of an aperture through which the body is inserted, the saidshoulders being substantially at right angles to the axis of the member when the catch bars are in their position for engaging the wall of an aperture, and also having slanted outer surfaces for engaging in an aperture and forcing them toward the retracted position upon'insertion of the member in such aperture, a cross pin in the said member passing through the said ends of the catch bars, the said catch bars having slanted walls accommodating the said cross pin whereby they are urged transversely inwardly and outwardly by the said cross pin upon axial movement of the said bars, means fixed to the opposite ends of the said bars and extending transversely of the said body member and outwardly therefrom for gripping by the fingers to m ove the bars axially of the said member, and a spring yielding-1y urging the said bar's axially of the body member in a direction to move the first mentioned ends outwardly, a threaded section on the said body member and a correspondingly threaded nut thereon, whereby elements joined together by the fastener may be releasably held together between the said not and the said shoulders.

4. A rapid fastener for use as a substitute for bolts and rivets, comprising a member, catch bars within the member, movable axially thereof and having oppositely facing shoulders at one end movable transversely from a retracted position inside the profile of the member in the axial direction and outwardly beyond the said profile for engaging'the wall of an aperture through which the body is inserted, a cross pin in the said member, the said catch bars having slanted walls engaging the said cross pin whereby they are urged transversely outwardly by the said cross pin upon axial movement of the said bars, a spring yieldingly urging the said bars axially of the body member in a direction to move the first mentioned ends outwardly, a cross bar fixed to the opposite ends of the said bars and extending transversely of the said body member and outwardly therefrom for gripping by the fingers to move the bars axially of the said member and in the reverse direction, a threaded section on the said body member and a correspondingly threaded nut thereon, whereby elements joined together by the fastener may be releasably held together between the said nut and the said shoulders, the said member having slots accommodating the said cross bar and located with reference to the catch bar dimensions and cross pin for engaging the cross bar and sustaining holding tension together with the said cross pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Egbert et al. July 4, Langdon Dec. 8, Benson Mar. 6, Bonham Oct. 4, Herst Nov. 28, Smith Jan. 2, Finkle Dec. 23, Bachrnan Dec. 17,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 30, France June 21, 

1. A RAPID FASTENER FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR BOLTS AND RIVETS COMPRISING A BIFURCATED BODY MEMBER, CATCH BARS WITHIN THE MEMBER, MOVABLE AXIALLY THEREOF AND HAVING OPPOSITELY FACING SHOULDERS AT ONE END MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN THE PROFILE OF THE MEMBER IN THE AXIAL DIRECTION AND OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SAID PROFILE FOR ENGAGING THE WALL OF AN APERTURE THROUGH WHICH THE BODY IS INSERTED, A CROSS PIN IN THE SAID MEMBER PASSING THROUGH THE SAID ENDS OF THE CATCH BARS, THE SAID CATCH BARS HAVING SLANTED WALLS ACCOMMODATING THE SAID CROSS PIN WHEREBY THEY ARE URGED TRANSVERSELY INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY BY THE SAID CROSS PIN UPON AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SAID BARS, MEANS FIXED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SAID BARS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE SAID BODY MEMBER AND OUTWARDLY THEREFROM FOR GRIPPING BY THE FINGERS TO MOVE THE BARS AXIALLY OF THE SAID MEMBER, AND A SPRING YIELDINGLY URGING THE SAID BARS AXIALLY OF THE BODY MEMBER IN DIRECTION TO MOVE THE FIRST MENTIONED ENDS OUTWARDLY, A THREADED SECTION ON THE SAID BODY MEMBER AND A CORRESPONDINGLY THREADED NUT THEREON, WHEREBY ELEMENTS JOINED TOGETHER BY THE FASTENER MAY BE RELEASABLY HELD TOGETHER BETWEEN THE SAID NUT AND THE SAID SHOULDERS. 